ANNOUNCING the release of Grade Seven and Grade Nine results yesterday, Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima revealed that Government had decided to end the automatic progression of Grade Sevens to Grade Eight.
This is commendable.
The minister’s decision is a bold and necessary step toward improving the country’s education system and promoting skills development in the country. This decision marks a significant shift in educational practice, one that has the potential to address critical issues within the system and drive positive change for the future.
For far too long, the policy of automatic progression has contributed to a culture of social promotion, where students are advanced to higher grades regardless of their academic preparedness. This practice has led to numerous negative consequences, including high dropout rates.
One of the key benefits of eliminating automatic progression to Grade Eight is that it will incentivise students to work hard and strive for academic excellence. Under the previous policy, students had little motivation to work hard and excel, knowing that they would progress to Grade Eight regardless of their academic performance. By introducing the requirement for students to obtain at least a full Grade Seven certificate before they can progress to Grade Eight, our educational system will foster a culture of accountability and effort, ultimately leading to more motivated and competent pupils.
The automatic progression policy had challenges. All pupils who sat the Grade Seven examinations automatically progressed to Grade Eight despite their academic performance or indeed their academic competences. We had Grade Eight pupils who could not read or write.
And there was no chance that such pupils would improve and be able to pass the Grade Nine examinations.
It was a matter of time before they dropped out of school. The writing was on the wall.
Keeping pupils in class where they are incapable of learning anything because of their intellectual or academic inadequacies is a waste of time and resources for both the pupils and teachers. It is also a waste of government resources.
The introduction of skills training for those who fail to make a full Grade Seven certificate is highly commendable.
There is life outside the classroom for the academically incapable. The promotion of skills development for pupils whose academic performance does not allow them to progress to Grade Eight provides a safeguard for such individuals and affords them an opportunity to excel in their lives despite their academic shortcomings.
It is crucial, however, that the transition to the new system be accompanied by comprehensive support for teachers, schools, and pupils. Professional development opportunities for teachers, adequate learning resources, and support structures for students who may require additional assistance will be essential to the successful implementation of this policy change.
More career and guidance teachers may need to be recruited to guide the thousands of pupils who don’t make it to Grade Eight on the right path to take.
Following Government’s decision, about 137,000 Grade Sevens will either have to repeat or go for skills training after failing to obtain full certificates.
Helping them through this period is critical to ensure they take a career path that will yield benefits for them and their families.
Indeed, the decision to abolish automatic progression to Grade Eight represents a significant and positive development for the country’s education system. This change has the potential to lay a solid foundation for the future success of pupils and the nation as a whole. While there may be challenges ahead, the long-term benefits of this shift in policy cannot be overstated, and it is a crucial step toward building a strong, competitive, and prosperous society.
Abolition of automatic progression welcome
ANNOUNCING the release of Grade Seven and Grade Nine results yesterday, Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima revealed that Government had decided to end the automatic progression of Grade Sevens to Grade Eight.
This is commendable.
The minister’s decision is a bold and necessary step toward improving the country’s education system and promoting skills development in the country. This decision marks a significant shift in educational practice, one that has the potential to address critical issues within the system and drive positive change for the future.
For far too long, the policy of automatic progression has contributed to a culture of social promotion, where students are advanced to higher grades regardless of their academic preparedness. This practice has led to numerous negative consequences, including high dropout rates.
One of the key benefits of eliminating automatic progression to Grade Eight is that it will incentivise students to work hard and strive for academic excellence. Under the previous policy, students had little motivation to work hard and excel, knowing that they would progress to Grade Eight regardless of their academic performance. By introducing the requirement for students to obtain at least a full Grade Seven certificate before they can progress to Grade Eight, our educational system will foster a culture of accountability and effort, ultimately leading to more motivated and competent pupils.
The automatic progression policy had challenges. All pupils who sat the Grade Seven examinations automatically progressed to Grade Eight despite their academic performance or indeed their academic competences. We had Grade Eight pupils who could not read or write.
And there was no chance that such pupils would improve and be able to pass the Grade Nine examinations.
It was a matter of time before they dropped out of school. The writing was on the wall.
Keeping pupils in class where they are incapable of learning anything because of their intellectual or academic inadequacies is a waste of time and resources for both the pupils and teachers. It is also a waste of government resources.
The introduction of skills training for those who fail to make a full Grade Seven certificate is highly commendable.
There is life outside the classroom for the academically incapable. The promotion of skills development for pupils whose academic performance does not allow them to progress to Grade Eight provides a safeguard for such individuals and affords them an opportunity to excel in their lives despite their academic shortcomings.
It is crucial, however, that the transition to the new system be accompanied by comprehensive support for teachers, schools, and pupils. Professional development opportunities for teachers, adequate learning resources, and support structures for students who may require additional assistance will be essential to the successful implementation of this policy change.
More career and guidance teachers may need to be recruited to guide the thousands of pupils who don’t make it to Grade Eight on the right path to take.
Following Government’s decision, about 137,000 Grade Sevens will either have to repeat or go for skills training after failing to obtain full certificates.
Helping them through this period is critical to ensure they take a career path that will yield benefits for them and their families.
Indeed, the decision to abolish automatic progression to Grade Eight represents a significant and positive development for the country’s education system. This change has the potential to lay a solid foundation for the future success of pupils and the nation as a whole. While there may be challenges ahead, the long-term benefits of this shift in policy cannot be overstated, and it is a crucial step toward building a strong, competitive, and prosperous society.